Rocks, road debris, hail, ice, and many
other objects can cause your windshield to chip or crack. Although these images may look harmless, left
in disrepair, these windshield chips can cause your windshield to crack and
become unsafe.
As long as the chip or small crack (less
than 6 inches) is not in the direct line of site of the driver (or what is
known as the critical area), it may be repairable, potentially saving you
hundreds of dollars. Some insurance
companies will actually pay for the repair of windshield chips or small cracks,
waiving your deductible.
The windshield repair technician will
first drill a small hole into the rock chip.
Then, the technician will apply vacuum pressure onto the hole. An injection of resin is made into the
windshield chip hole. Once the resin has
been injected, the technician cures the resin by utilizing an ultraviolet
light. Once cured, the excess resin is
removed from the repair and the windshield in cleaned. The repaired windshield is no longer in
danger of cracking further from this chip.
You may, however, notice some distortion at the point of the repair as
the resin will not be perfectly clear, but it is structurally safe.
Left in disrepair, your windshield chip
will develop into a crack and most likely will end up ruining your
windshield. Temperature variations, car
washes, or even extreme temperatures can cause your chip to turn into a large
un-repairable crack. The sooner the
repair is completed, the better the results will generally be. Dust, debris and moisture can settle into the
crack and cause blemishes or discoloration.
Most people do not realize that the
windshield of your car, truck or van is an important structural component of
your vehicle. Therefore, a quality
installation is essential to maintain that structural integrity. Using the most advanced materials, such as a
quality adhesive, is a critical element in the windshield installation process.
